Organizers of the Global Sumud aid flotilla said on Thursday they are planning their largest convoy yet to the Gaza Strip next month in an effort to break Israel’s siege.
The humanitarian mission aims to deploy 100 boats carrying more than 1,000 activists, including medics, educators, engineers and war crimes investigators, the group said.
The flotilla is due to set sail from Barcelona on March 29th. A separate land convoy is also expected to depart from Asia at around the same time, carrying food and medical supplies.
The Global Sumud Flotilla (GSF) described the initiative as a “coordinated, nonviolent response to genocide, siege, mass starvation and the destruction of civilian life in Gaza”.
“This is the enemy we are confronting. It is not a person, but a way of life that determines the future of other nations,” said Saif Abukeshek, a member of the GSF steering committee.
The flotilla was announced at a meeting in Johannesburg attended by Mandla Mandela, the grandson of Nelson Mandela.
The initiative has attracted high-profile backing, including from Malaysia’s Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim, who said in January that his country would be “directly involved” in the next flotilla.
“We will mobilise all efforts to help and defend the rights of the Palestinian people. Justice can no longer be delayed, for the sake of a dignified and independent Palestine,” he said.
Intercepted by Israel
A previous flotilla organised by the GSF set sail in August and reached within 200 nautical miles of the Gaza Strip in October.
About 40 boats carrying 450 activists were intercepted and detained by Israeli forces. Several participants later said they were subjected to physical mistreatment, sexual assault and verbal abuse while in detention.
Activists also reported disruptions to their communications during the journey, as Israeli warships and drones operated around the flotilla.
The Global Sumud flotillas are not the first attempts to challenge Israel’s naval blockade of Gaza.
The attempts date back to 2008, with flotillas since 2010 ending with Israeli interceptions, some ending violently.
In 2010, Israeli forces boarded a flotilla, killing 10 activists and wounding dozens. Israel later apologised in 2013 for what it described as “operational mistakes” related to the incident.
Global Sumud Flotilla activists speak to the media upon arriving at Guarulhos International Airport after being released by Israeli authorities, 9 October 2025 (Miguel Schincariol/AFP)
[ SOURCE: MIDDLE EAST EYE ]
